Indian stargazers will get to see a celestial phenomenon where seven planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align in the night sky at the close of Maha Kumbh 2025. This ‘planetary parade’ started in January with the sighting of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The astronomical phenomenon will be at its best on February 28 when Mercury becomes part of the group, making the complete planetary alignment.
Learning about the Planetary Parade
Planetary alignments occur due to the fact that the planets orbit the Sun in a very flat plane known as the ecliptic. What this implies is that planets in Earth’s sky seem to come along a line, so such alignments are fairly frequent but are worth a sight.
Best Time and Way to View the Alignment
The optimum time to witness this rare spectacle is about 45 minutes after sunset. The five brightest planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—can be seen with the naked eye, but Uranus and Neptune will need a telescope. NASA described that:
- Venus and Saturn will be visible in the southwest shortly after dark.
- Jupiter will be shining overhead, so it will be easy to find.
- Mars will be a bright reddish object rising in the east.
- Saturn will be a small dot in the west, and Jupiter will be equally visible in the south.
- Uranus and Neptune, although included in the alignment, will be visible only through telescopes because of their distance.
The alignment will be visible for as long as three hours until Venus and Saturn sink below the horizon. Of the planets, Venus will be brightest and easiest to spot.
Maha Kumbh 2025: A Grand Spiritual Gathering
India’s biggest spiritual carnival, the Maha Kumbh Mela, started on January 13 and will end on February 27 at 08:54 AM. The festival is celebrated at the Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers meet, and pilgrims perform a sacred bath. The royal bath or Shahi Snan is the event’s biggest highlight, attracting millions of pilgrims.
As the Maha Kumbh reaches its conclusion, this planetary configuration gives a cosmic flavor to the grand festival, making it an experience of a lifetime for both pilgrims and astronomy buffs.
